Selection World Cup 2022 Netherlands: Louis van Gaal announces final team of 26 men
The Dutch 2022 World Cup squad performed to a high level in Qatar, topping Group A before beating the USA 3-1 in their last 16 encounter.
Manager Louis van Gaal has stuck to his tried and tested five in the back formation in Qatar, using wide forwards and a midfield duo of Frenkie de Jong and either Martin de Roon or Davy Klaassen. It has proven a good return for the country after missing out in 2018, and is about to experience another successful tournament as they achieved in both 2010 and 2014.
Cody Gakpo was their breakout star at this tournament, scoring three goals en route to the Netherlands’ quarter-finals. He scored in each of the group stage matches, against Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar, and has been consistently linked with a departure from his current club at PSV.
Virgil van Dijk plays at the heart of the Orange defense, leading the team with Jurrien Timber and Nathan Ake on either side of him. Mathijs de Ligt started their opening game at the right of the back three, but Van Gaal replaced him after the defender complained about how vulnerable he was feeling.
A tough test against Argentina awaits them in the quarter-finals, and it will be difficult for them to keep Lionel Messi. They are certainly confident though and Van Gaal has created a brilliant atmosphere within the squad where the players are starting to feed off.
There is a very good mix of experience and exciting talent in this balanced squad, whose elite coach has unleashed a historically challenged locker room. Generations come and go, and there are difficult interludes: after 2014, the Netherlands had a long time to recover from the retirement of Van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben. That level of star talent may not be there, but the strength in depth throughout the team undoubtedly is.
Selection World Cup 2022 Netherlands
Selection World Cup 2022 Netherlands: The final team of 26 men
- GK: Andries Noppert, Heerenveen
- GK: Remko Pasveer, Ajax
- GK: Justin Bijlow, Feyenoord
- DF: Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool
- DF: Nathan Ake, Manchester City
- DF: Daley Blind, Ajax
- DF: Stefan de Vrij, Inter
- DF: Denzel Dumfries, Inter
- DF: Tyrell Malacia, Manchester United
- DF: Jurrien Timber, Ajax
- DF: Jeremy Frimpong, Bayer Leverkusen
- DF: Matthijs de Ligt, Bayern Munich
- MF: Steven Berghuis, Ajax
- MF: Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona
- MF: Davy Klaassen, Ajax
- MF: Marten de Roon, Atalanta
- MF: Teun Koopmeiners, Atalanta
- MF: Kenneth Taylor, Ajax
- MF: Xavi Simons, PSV
- FW: Luuk de Jong, PSV
- FW: Noa Lang, Club Brugge
- FW: Steven Bergwijn, Tottenham
- FW: Memphis Depay, Barcelona
- FW: Wout Weghorst, Besiktas
- FW: Cody Gakpo, PSV
- FW: Vincent Janssen, Royal Antwerp
Netherlands top scorers
3 goals: Cody Gakpo
1. goal: Davy Klaassen, Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay, Daley Blind, Denzel Dumfries
Netherlands yellow cards
1 yellow: Matthijs de Ligt, Nathan Ake, Teun Koopmeiners, Frenkie de Jong
Netherlands manager
Who is the national coach of the Netherlands for the 2022 World Cup?
Louis van Gaal has led his country twice before and will do everything he can to get lucky for a third time in what will likely be his last job in football. He will try to build the momentum his team achieved in 2014, when the Dutchman surprised everyone by finishing third. They have yet to win the World Cup. He couldn’t… could he?
Dutch star player
Who is the best player in the Netherlands?
he has won every major trophy there is at club level, but Virgil van Dijk has never played for his country in a major tournament after missing last summer’s postponed European Championship due to knee surgery. After a slow start to the season at Liverpool, the 31-year-old will be determined to show he is still one of the world’s best defenders.
How many players can the Netherlands bring to the 2022 World Cup?
National managers were allowed to bring 26 players to last summer’s European Championship at a major tournament for the first time as a special measure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now teams of 26 players return for the World Cup in Qatar, an expansion of the usual 23-man teams.
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